It's the weekend - woohoo! Before I dash off I wanted to share this apartment which is currently for sale here in Malmö. It's in Rörsjöstaden which is packed with beautiful buildings from the late 19th /early 20th century. What caught my eye the most is the pretty sitting room, I love the colours in the cushions and the mix of art on the wall. Another interesting thing about this home is how it starts off all white and soft pastels and then suddenly, the home office /creative room takes on an entirely different colour scheme altogether........

I just wanted to share a small snippet of wisdom I received years ago that has helped me have a realistic expectation toward myself as a homeschooling mom. When I participated actively on Sonlight Forums (which helped me greatly as I was getting acclimated to homeschooling), a more experienced mom shared this:

She told her husband he could come home to any 3 of the following:

a clean house

clean, brushed, bathed, dressed children

educated children

a hot meal

a "willing" wife

But he could only pick 3 per day. :D I love that. I can do it all, but not in one day.

And many of us have other things to fit in too... perhaps you are in a situation where you have to fit in some part time hours of work, or language learning (lessons, study, & practice) several hours a day, or maybe you have an aging parent or grandparent that you care for. Mama, BE GRACIOUS toward yourself. Give yourself the gift of realistic expectations, knowing you CANNOT DO IT ALL, ALL AT ONCE. Rely on God. Do the things you can do. And don't feel bad or take on guilt from magazines, from Mrs. Perfection at your church, or from some false set of expectations thrust on you from another person. Do what you can do, and don't feel badly that some things fall through the cracks. The world will go on spinning if the bath gets skipped for today or if the dishes sit on the counter overnight. Rest. Trust. And choose joy as you "do the next thing."

(***In case anyone is wondering what it is, the picture is of my 6 year old and 4 year old helping me brine the turkey for Thanksgiving, in a refrigerator drawer.***)

I picked up a rather neat trick for growing indoors back when I had my hobby greenhouse. Plants and humans work opposite. Humans breath in oxygen and respire carbon dioxide whereas plants use carbon dioxide and release oxygen which is why we need plants in our home for healthy indoor air quality. In my quest to heat the greenhouse the first year, I came across a tip to use a propane heater

Gooood morning! I often feel Danish interiors have a distinct style; simple, clean but with the perfect hint of relaxed bohemian. This is the pretty home of Tine K of Tine K Home in Funen, Denmark which she shares with her husband and three children. Built in 1834, the house was photographed by Jenny of Black Balloon shop and blog. I love the way Tine has decorated her home with rustic wood furniture against the white, soft grey hues and sharp contrasts of black.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

I imagine most of you are familiar with Holly Becker's amazing Decor8. Well if you're a fan (and really, how couldn't you be?), you will be excited to hear about her new book Decorate Workshop!I am happy to be a part of the Decorate Workshop Blog Tour, which will feature reviews of Holly's Decorate Workshop by several different bloggers.

"In Decorate Workshop, Holly Becker shares all of the design secrets that have made her one of the most beloved bloggers and stylists today. A companion to the international bestseller Decorate, this interactive guide takes readers step by step through her unique eight-step process. She shares her personal design philosophy and explains how to carry a vision into a finished room, from the early paint swatches to the final accents. Readers will learn how to identify their style, create mood boards, outline a schedule and budget, source materials, and start decorating! Filled with expert tips, important checklists, blank space for making lists and plans, and 250 photographs of gorgeous interiors, this is an essential planner for home decorators, whatever their budget."

A couple of days ago I wrote about the concept of a continuous harvest by growing an indoor garden. A wide range of vegetables can be grown indoors year round. The choice for fruits, on the other hand is a bit more limited. Many herbs can be grown indoors as well. Unlike growing outdoors, the indoor environment is a controlled one. All the necessities for healthy plant growth are controlled

Hello! I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the first day of advent this weekend! On Saturday my family and I will head out to a special sustainable wood here in Skåne where we'll chop down our own Christmas tree (celebrated with a steaming glass of glögg!). To get into the spirit I thought I'd share some Norwegian Christmas decorating ideas from the home of the extremely talented Nina at Stylizimo blog.

﻿﻿I really love the simplicity of Nina's decorating ideas and am a big fan of white at Christmas. What about you - do you prefer white or cosy red? Or perhaps something bold like neon even?!

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming a new sponsor - The Reclaimed Flooring Company. This fantastic company offers unique flooring that is 'crafted by man, designed by nature'. Honestly, they sell my dream surface; unique wood flooring that tells a story and the passing of time written in each and every grain and knot. And the good news? They ship worldwide - yay!